A total of seven people were killed, 27 more injured and nearly 2,000 buildings across 18 provinces damaged by heavy storms and lightning during the first week of May, a National Committee for Disaster Management spokesman said yesterday.

According to spokesman Keo Vy, 11 schools and seven public buildings were among the damaged structures. Three people were killed by the heavy storms and 24 others were injured, while four people were killed by lightning, which also injured three more and set a house on fire in Preah Vihear province.

Kampong Thom and Kampong Speu were hit the hardest, Vy said. Fifty-nine houses were damaged, 278 others lost their roofs and 14 people were injured in Kampong Thom. In Kampong Speu, 46 houses were damaged and 149 others lost their roofs.

Moa Chanmakthurith, police chief of Kampot province, said a woman was also struck and killed by lightning there on Friday and a second one was badly injured.

A father and son in Prey Veng were also badly injured when their house collapsed on them, according to Sreng Chea, provincial police chief.